We got our first dose of serious earnings numbers this morning, with plenty of financial sector names making headlines. This trend will continue through the end of this week.

Looking at the winners, Goldman Sachs (GS), Comerica (CMA) and to a lesser extent, JP Morgan (JPM) appeared to be the favorites for investors, while names like Northern Trust (NTRS) and Bank of New York (BK) saw some selling on the news. Vail Mountain Resorts (MTN) shares were down following the company’s soft earnings outlook as the mild winter is having a toll on its performance.

Boeing (BA) shares fell on continued troubles with the company’s new 787 “Dreamliner” fleet. Wall Street analyst downgrades pushed some stocks into the red today, including Mead Johnson Nutrition (MJN), Starwood Hotels (HOT), and Wynn Resorts (WYNN). Finally, Apple (AAPL) shares regained the $500 mark following several technical analysts coming out and saying shares may be nearing a bottom.

Staying on Top is Easier Said Than Done

I read a story yesterday about the Senior VP of Retail for Apple (AAPL) resigning to spend more time with his family. This news piece got me thinking about how difficult it is for companies (and people) to remain on top for long periods of time.

You see, many executives that have been with Apple for a while have probably amassed some serious money. Once they hit financial nirvana, many people see their hunger and hustle begin to slow. This development can often coincide with the top for companies whose stock price has been going gangbusters for an extended period of time (see: Apple). Now it doesn’t necessarily mean the stock price will fall into the abyss, but the innovative or competitive drive could simply not be as strong. We are dealing with human nature, and whether we believe it or not, some of us begin to take the foot off the gas once certain goals are achieved.

As investors or those who are involved in growing businesses, you have to recognize these symptoms as potential determining factors of how much more upside there may be in your endeavors. If you take a look back into the past, you’ll probably notice that many of the top companies from 10-20 years ago are no longer the heavyweights they used to be. It is a rare breed of business that can continue to shine year after year, and decade after decade. We need to stay alert to how the ever-changing landscape inevitably affects us and our decisions to invest our money and our time.

Our 2013 Dividend Stock Guide Has Arrived!

Our new members-only eBook has just been released! This 250-page guide to investing in 2013 contains a concise economic forecast for next year, including full previews for 60 big-name stocks! Be sure to head over to Dividend.com Premium and download it and get your game plan in place for all good things dividend-related in 2013!

An Important Note Regarding the Best Dividend Stocks List

We want to make sure everyone understands that the stocks on our Best Dividend Stocks List are the names we currently like for new investor capital, regardless of what date the stock was first recommended on. If and when a stock is removed from the list, we will clearly state whether the stock should be sold (which is rare but occasionally will happen), or simply held in one’s account until we see a better entry point or catalyst.

And here’s one last thing to remember about what we do here at Dividend.com: it’s not just the names that we recommend that can help you build wealth, but also the things we try to steer you away from that are just as important. Forget about speculative or penny stocks, chasing unprofitable IPOs, and listening to the manic talking heads in the business media!

A Dividend Capture Strategy for Active Investors

We now offer complete U.S. dividend data for all Dividend.com Premium members, so anyone that focuses on “Dividend Capture” trading strategies should have plenty of good stuff to research each day. Just check our enhanced Ex-Dividend Calendar, which is the best in the business, to search for upcoming payouts.

Speaking of dividend capture, Dividend.com Premium members can also access a 9-page report we published on the essential elements to any successful dividend capture strategy. Be sure to check it out here on the Premium homepage.